Kittery council weighs library site, 2015 school budget

KITTERY, Maine — Town councilors had a number of suggestions for a new Rice Public Library site, including several town-owned properties,and at least one urged the library board not to give up on the Kittery Community Center.

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By Deborah McDermott

seacoastonline.com

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Mar. 24, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Updated Mar 24, 2014 at 10:18 PM

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Mar. 24, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Updated Mar 24, 2014 at 10:18 PM

» Social News

KITTERY, Maine — Town councilors had a number of suggestions for a new Rice Public Library site, including several town-owned properties,and at least one urged the library board not to give up on the Kittery Community Center.

The library board is looking for land, after the Kittery Community Center board voted late last year to keep the building annex. The library had hoped to tear down the annex and build a new facility on the campus.

Library director Lee Perkins told the council that the board has not yet been able to locate a parcel that is central enough to allow easy walking and bicycling for schoolchildren and other residents.

Library board chair Rachel Dennis said the library can not remain in the two buildings it owns because there is not enough land for additions and the buildings themselves are too small.

“I don’t want to sound schmaltzy, but we so want to give Kittery what they deserve. We truly want the best,” she said.

Council chair Jeff Thomson suggested the old Kittery Family Practice building on Walker Street. Perkins said the board just recently heard the building had been sold, but Thomson said he spoke with an owner Monday afternoon who told him an offer was on the table but the property had not been sold.

Several councilors also asked the board to consider town-owned land, including the former recreation department parcel on Cole Street and the former Kittery Fire Department on Walker Street.

But councilor Jeff Pelletier urged the library board not to give up on the KCC campus. “I’m a little uncomfortable that an appointed board said this couldn’t happen. The board is not the only decision-maker.”

He suggested that the two boards meet with the council to see if some solution could be found that meets both needs and allows the library to move to the campus.

“As an abutter, I think that’s a superb idea,” said resident Barry Fitzgerald.

In other business, Superintendent of Schools Allyn Hutton presented the proposed fiscal year 2015 school budget, which is 1.5 percent higher than this year.

“We very much, like you, get bogged down in number. But we have to remind ourselves that it’s about the students and the learning,” she said. The council and school committee need to “remain committed” to achieve the best budget for education, she said.

Councilor Chuck Denault said he was concerned about a recent youth risk behavior survey that indicated 22 percent of Traip Academy students had considered suicide. He asked if there was “adequate funding” to deal with this issue.

“It’s very concerning,” said Hutton. While teachers are getting some training, “there’s never enough” that can be done. She said administrators are working and will continue to work with the School Resource Officer to address troubled youth. In addition, she said there are school social workers and guidance counselors.

The council is expected to take a preliminary vote on the school budget April 14; a public hearing will be held May 12, with a final vote occurring afterward.